AEI Group
AEI Group promotes internationally the capability of Australian education, science and training to support sustained development of Australia’s international competitiveness and to provide other social and economic advantages.
It promotes international cooperation through bilateral, multilateral and regional relationships that underpin Australia’s ability to engage in productive dialogue on education issues, as well as sensitive matters including regional security, environmental protection and trade. Government-to-government relationships are integrated with support for the export of Australian education, training and scientific services through the work of overseas counsellors and locally engaged staff.
This work is presented externally as activities of AEI Online - the website for International Education . Through the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) , the Group sets guidelines for and assists with assessing the qualifications of people intending to study in Australia, and gathers information for establishing the comparability of national education systems and awards. AEI Group oversees the framework for regulating providers of services to overseas students in Australia, administers the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act and maintains the register of approved providers (CRICOS) .
Location: 5th Floor, 16 Mort St, Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6240 9395
Fax: (02) 6240 8161
AEI Group Functions and Contacts
AEI Group comprises three Branches (Educational Standards Branch; Export Facilitation Branch; and International Cooperation Branch) and one service Unit (Business Management Unit).
DEST works through its International Network (DEST-IN) to represent Australia’s education, science and training interests overseas.
The Network comprises 14 diplomatically accredited Managers located in 12 countries around the world. They are based in: Washington, Los Angeles, Dubai, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Taipei, New Delhi, Bangkok, Jakarta, Hanoi, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur and Paris. By the end of 2004, DEST will also have established positions in Brussels that will work with the European Union, and in Santiago de Chile, covering the whole of Latin America.
DEST-In Managers advance Australia’s interest in international education markets through the generic promotion of Australian education and training, government-to-government representation, provision of strategic policy advice to the Department on in-country education and training developments, and assistance to Australian providers in their overseas networking and operations.
The Counsellor’s position in Paris is attached to the Australian Delegation to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). His role is focused on Australia’s engagement in international policy development and review in employment and education, and the provision of strategic policy advice to DEST on the positioning of Australia’s education in global markets.
In addition to its own International Network, DEST works through strategic partnerships with the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) in Europe, and Brazil.
Details of the International Education Network 
are available on the AEI Online website.
The Educational Standards Branch is responsible for the development and maintenance of standards, which underpin Australia’s education and training export industry, and its Skilled Migration Programme. Specifically it:
- administers the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and related Acts, which regulate the Australian education and training export industry, and oversees the register of approved providers of education and training services to overseas students (CRICOS);
- includes the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) which is Australia’s national expert body on overseas skills assessments and recognition;
- coordinates the Commonwealth’s contribution to the Australian Qualifications Framework Advisory Board, which oversees the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The AQF describes Australian educational awards from school to higher education doctorates and lists all bodies empowered to accredit and offer post-compulsory education and training courses; and
- contributes, with others, to realising the Government’s objectives for AEI.
The Export Facilitation Branch is responsible for promoting Australian education and training services overseas and supporting the Australian education and training industry’s export efforts. Specifically it contributes, with others, to realising the Governments objectives for AEI.
The Branch is responsible for building cooperative relationships internationally, and for the development of policy advice on the internationalisation of Australia’s education, science and training. Specifically it contributes, with others, to realising the Governments objectives for AEI. To fulfil this role the Branch undertakes research and analysis, develops policy advice and manages a number of key activities, including:
- high level agreements with priority countries, particularly in the Asia Pacific region;
- bilateral and multilateral dialogue and collaborative projects;
- participation in multilateral fora such as APEC, SEAMEO, OECD, UNESCO and WTO; and
- participation in reciprocal visits of Ministers and senior officials and participation in strategic regional events.
- analyses and synthesises data from environmental scans, market intelligence, and from the monitoring of policy developments and social and economic trends to develop the AEI Group’s Strategic Plan (3-5 years);
- manages the operational requirements for the OCN, including recruitment, pre-embarkation and reintegration programmes and property requirements;
- manages the AEI Group finances, including revenue streams, expenditures, contracts and the OCN finances; and
- contributes to, coordinates and delivers against corporate management initiatives (portfolio budget statement reporting, people management, financial management, audit and legal requirements, information technology, etc.)